Liquid stirring and dispensing mechanism



A rifi 1, 1958 R. M. STILWELL 2,828,950

LIQUID STIRRING AND DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed March 13, 1957 INVENTOR R4: PH M $774 WELL Z BY V 9W TTORNEYS Unite States LIQUID STEERING AND DISPENSING MECHANISM This invention generally relates to containers for holding a quantity of beverage or other liquid products in which means are utilized for providing continuous agitation or stirring of the product and for permitting dispensing the product as the need arises. More particularly, the present invention deals with an improved mechanism which provides for automatic heating of the product and stirring thereof through the use of a magnetic drive mechanism.

Heretofore, a wide variety of stirring and dispensing containers have been used, and such devices have been particularly useful for products such as hot cocoa, which requires continuous stirring to insure a smooth consistency of the liquid. Also, some of these devices have included means for maintaining the liquid in a heated condition during the stirring thereof. However, these prior art devices have been subject to certain shortcomings and features of disadvantage, including their rather bulky character, their requirement for overhead brackets or the like to support the stirring mechanism.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combination dispenser and stirrer in which the stirring is effected through magnetic force with the entire drive apparatus disposed subjacent the container and in combination with a similarly positioned heating element.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which the stirring mechanism is supported on the container itself in such a manner as to thoroughly stir the liquid in the container without interfering with the dispensing of such liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container as hereinabove described including means for keeping themoisture within the container so as to avoid evaporation losses therefrom and consequent thickening and/ or scorching of the liquid product.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container suitable for use in restaurants or the like in which a sign or other advertising indicia may be incorporated thereon for rotation with the stirrer, and yet which will not in any way interfere with the normal functions of the container.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a container as hereinabove defined, in combination with a heating member on which the container may be normally seated and in which the drivng means for the stirrer is positioned in a manner so as to be substantially entirely hidden from View.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus or" the present invention, portions of the figure being broken away in order to disclose features of internal construction.

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Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated b ,1 line ?-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan cross-sectional View taken substantially in the plane indicated by line i -d of Figure I.

Figure 5 is a portional View similar to Figure 1 and illustrating a modified form of display or indicia bearing member.

In broad terms, the apparatus of the present invention includes a base 12; in which a heating unit is contained, a container 13 formed of glass or other suitable non-magnetic material for containing the liquid, a stirring mechanism 14 disposed within the container and adapted to keep the contents thereof in an agitated form, and power drive means in for rotating the stirrer 14 from exteriorly of the container. In this manner, it will be appreciated that the container, containing the stirrer mechanism, may readily be removed from its support on the base 32, tilted so as to permit dispensing of liquid therefrom and then returned to the support base. So long as the container is seated on the base, the drive means 16 will continuously rotate the stirring mechanism, as will be hereinafter explained.

More particularly, the container 13 will be seen to comprise a bowl-like body 17 having an upper restricted neck portion 18. Where the body is made of glass, it is conventional practice to provide an annular metal collar 19 around the neck, such collar having a pair of spaced ears 21 between which a manually engageable handle 22 may be positioned and secured thereto by a bolt 23 or the like. The upper end of the neck portion is further provided with a pouring lip or spout 24 to facilitate ready pouring of the liquid into a cup or other liquid receiver.

Since, as hereinabove explained, the container 13 is adapted to contain a product such as hot cocoa which is required to be continuously heated, it is preferable that the major portion of the container be maintained in a substantially closed condition, so as to avoid loss of moisture from the container and consequent thickening of the product. This may be readily accomplished by providing a cover, generally indicated by the numeral 126, having a relatively fiat top 2! and a downturned flange 28. The portoin of the cover adjacent the lip 24 is cut back so that the cover does not provide any obstruction to the free pouring of liquid from the spout portion 24 of the container. The cover may be maintained in position by resilient engagement of the flange 28 with the neck of the bottle or in any other suitable manner so long as it does not become displaced upon tilting of the container.

The stirring mechanism 14 is supported entirely on the container itself, thereby avoiding any requirement for unsightly and interfering overhead mounting brackets or the like, and in furtherance of this, it will be noted that in the present embodiment the stirring mechanism is conveniently supported on the cover 26. Preferably the stirrer includes a rod 31 extending axially downwardly from the center of the cover, and provided with a generally semicircular loop 32 terminating in a lower horizontal fiat portion 33 substantially immediately adjacent the bottom wall 34 of the container bowl. The stirrer is adapted for rotation about a vertical axis within the container, and it Will be seen that this may be accomplished by providing a sleeve 36 secured to the cover 26 through which the rod extends, suitable stop members 37 being positioned on the rod 31 on opposite sides of the sleeve so as to permit free rotation of the stirring rod while substantialiy preventing any axial displacement between the rod and sleeve. it will be further noted that the stirrer portions 32 and 33 generally follow the contour of the container and are adjacent to the side walls and bottom thereof so that as the stirrer is rotated the contents of the container will be likewise agitated.

In order to provide for automatic rotation of ti e stirrer, I provide a magnetic drive mechanism which is adapted to effect rotation of the stirrer from entirely outside the container. To permit such action, the distal end portion 33 of the stirring rod is provided with a permanent bar magnet 35, which may be secured thereto in any suitable manner such as soldering or the like. Then, I provide a motor having a vertically extending drive shaft 42 having a similar bar magnet 43 at the upper end thereof in general alignment with the axis of the container and with the magnet 35. In this manner it will be appreciated that as the driving magnet 43 is rotated by the motor the magnet 35 will be affected thereby and rotate. in synchronism with the rotation of the driver This, of course, will cause the stirrer to likewise be rotated within the container for the purposes above described. Thus, by virtue of the magnetic drive mechanism, the user may readily remove the container from the source of magnetic drive, pour some contents therefrom, and then freely replace the container adjacent the drive so that the stirrer will again be brought into actuation. As an important feature of the invention, the magnet 43 and its associated drive mechanism 16 is incorporated in the base housing 12, which likewise includes a heating element 39 for maintaining the contents of container in a heated condition. With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the heating element 39 is of the electrical type and controlled by a switch 41, which is likewise electrically connected to the drive motor 16. Thus, as the operator actuates the switch 41, the heating element becomes hot and the drive motor 16 is actuated, thus causing a simultaneous heating and stirring of the liquid in the container 13. Preferably, the heating element is incorporated within a fiat ceramic housing 46 provided on the base and is positioned along the periphery thereof, thus leaving room in the center of the heating element for positioning the magnet 43. The ceramic material and the glass bottom 34 of the container will not interfere with the lines of magnetic force, and thus, although the entire driving source for the stirrer is completely hidden by the member 46, no difliculty will be incurred in providing a smooth and continuous rotation of the stirrer 14 about the verti cal axis of the container. Since the stirrer is slightly spaced from the bottom of the container, I prefer to add a small chain 47 or similar flexible element to the end portion of the stirring rod, the function of the chain being to drag along the central portion of the container bottom and prevent the accumulation of solid materials thereon. In absence of such a member, it has been found that there is a tendency for the liquid immediately subjacent the portion 33 of the stirrer to remain stationary and not have the desired continuous agitation.

A further important feature of the present invention is the provision of a sign or other display media which is adapted to be rotated with the stirrer. This sign, generally indicated by the numeral Si, may be of any desired shape or configuration and may contain advertising such as the name of the cocoa or beverage being dispensed. Preferably, and as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the sign is carried directly on the upper end of the stirring rod portion 31. This may be readily accomplished by providing an upwardly directed channel 52 attached to the upper end of rod 31, in which a flat sign 53 may be releasably inserted. Thus, as the stirring rod rotates, the sign will likewise rotate and call attention to the product being served. Since the sign possesses a substantial size, it will be appreciated that if the sign were permitted to remain in the position shown in Figure l, the edges of the bracket and/ or sign might well interfere with the proper dispensing of the product from the spout of the container. For this reason it is important to note that the general plane of the sign is at right angles to the plane of the stirring rod. Thus, if the sign were in the position shown in Figure 1 and the container were tilted as if dispensing the beverage, the stirring rod would rotate degrees, due to the weight thereof, so that the loop portion of the rod was lowermost or towards the direction of tilt of the container. This would, of course, result in the sign being rotated 90 degrees from the position illustrated in Figure 1 and completely out of the way of the pouring opening.

In Figure 5, there is illustrated a modified form of my invention in which the sign is still driven by the magnetic force but in a slightly ditferent manner. In this embodiment, the driven magnet 61 to which the stirring rod 62 is connected is positioned adjacent the top of the container (not shown) and the drive motor 63 overlies such magnet with the driver magnet 64 positioned adjacent the magnet 61. A stationary spindle 66 extends upwardly from the drive motor and rotatably mounted thereon is a cylindrical metal skirt 67 on which a sign 63 may be positioned. Here, the peripheral lower edge 69 of the skirt is positioned adjacent the magnets 61 and 64-, so that the rotation thereof effects a rotation of the skirt and the sign carried thereby. Thus, in both of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the same magnetic drive utilized to eiTect rotation of the stirring mechanism is likewise utilized to efiect a rotation of the display sign.

While the apparatus of the instant invention is extremely simple and attractive in appearance, it will adequately fulfill the requisite function of providing storage for the beverage, heating of the beverage, simultaneous stirring of the liquid and ready dispensing thereof when needed.

What is claimed is:

1. Dispensing and stirring mechanism comprising a non-magnetic container for liquids and having a pouring spout at the top thereof, a cover overlying said open top and leaving said spout open, a stirring member, means journalling said member on said cover for rotation about a vertical central axis while preventing axial movement thereof, said member having a lower portion adjacent the bottom of said container and having a magnet mounted thereon, a base member including a peripherally extending heating element, and a power driven magnet positioned generally centrally of said heating element in juxtaposition to said stirring member magnet.

2. Apparatus of the type described comprising, a nonmagnetic container having a pouring spout adjacent an upper edge portion thereof, a liquid stirrer positioned centrally of said container and supported for free rotation adjacent the upper portion of the latter, said stirrer including a bottom end portion adjacent the bottom wall of said container, a magnet secured to said end portion, a unitary supporting base for said container including a relative imperforate non-magnetic plate-like member having a heating element incorporated therewith and a second magnet positioned centrally of said heating element subjacent said member and in alignment with said first mentioned magnet, drive means for rotating said second magnet, and switch means in said base for energizing said drive means and simultaneously energizing said heating element.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including a sign member secured to said stirrer and extending upwardly and axially from said container, said sign lying in a plane normal to the plane of said stirrer and moving with said stirrer to a plane normal to the axis of said spout when said container is tilted and liquid is being poured from said spout, said stirrer being weighted so as to cause said sign to assume said position upon tilting of the container.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a container having an open upper end portion defining a pouring spout, a cover overlying the open end of said container while. leaving open said pouring spout, a generally axially extending stirring rod journalled on said cover and having a lower end portion adjacent and substantially parallel to the container bottom, a bar magnet attached to said lower end portion, said stirrer and magnet being so arranged and supported that the plane of said stirrer will lie in the plane along which said container is tilted as in pouring due to the weight distribution of said stirrer and magnet relative to the vertical axis of said container, a sign secured to said rod lying in a plane generally normal to the plane of said rod and extending upwardly from said cover whereby upon pouring said sign will be positioned normal to the spout, a base housing adapted to support said container and having a rela tively fiat imperforate top, a heating element positioned within said base adjacent said top, a second magnet disposed generally centrally of said heating element, and a drive motor for said second magnet, said second magnet being adapted to drive said first magnet and said rod and said sign upon motor actuation.

5. Dispensing and stirring mechanism comprising a nonmagnetic container for liquids and having a pouring opening at the top thereof, a stirring member, means engageable with an upper end portion of said container and overlying at least a portion of the open top thereof journalling said member for rotation about a vertical central axis while preventing substantial axial movement thereof, said member extending downwardly into said container and having a lower portion adjacent the bottom of the container and having a magnet mounted thereon, a base member including a heating element adjacent the top thereof, and said base member further having a power driven magnet positioned substantially centrally of said heating element in juxtaposition to said stirring member magnet for rotating the latter and the stirring member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,399,513 Nyberg Dec. 6, 1921 1,681,076 Wohl Aug. 14, 1928 2,162,348 Hacmac June 13, 1939 2,518,758 Cook Aug. 15, 1950 2,743,910 Melville May 1, 1956 

